Lara Bites

These lara bars/bites are SO easy to make. My two year old loves them. You can really make your own concoction of whatever your favorite nuts are. You really can't go wrong. I adapted my recipe from 100daysofrealfood blogger.  These are very filling and great on the go snacks. I roll mine into a ball because I'm lazy and it makes it easier for my little guy to eat them. My son wouldn't eat nuts if his life depended on it, but when you throw them in a blender with other ingredients they have no idea they are in there-plus it makes me feel good he's eating a healthy snack!

Lemon Lara Bites

Serves: 7 balls

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Medjool dates, pitted
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup raw almonds, pecans, walnuts, or cashews
• 1/4-1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• ¼ cup almond or peanut butter (I really like the almond butter flavor)
• 1 tablespoon water
• Optional: (tastes ahhmazing) 5-8 drops of Lemon Essential Oil- I use Young Living 

Instructions

1. Combine dates, cranberries, pecas, almonds,  peanut butter and water in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
2. Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper. I like to refridgerate mine for 30 min or so and then roll in balls. You can roll them right away if you'd like.
3. Roll into balls. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature

I usual double or quadrupal this recipe because I eat these wayyy too much!!!!

BTW, these are SO much better homemade then the Lara bar version

Recipes adapted from: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/01/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/

Cashew Cookie Larabar

Serves: 12 squares

Ingredients

• 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
• 1 cup raw cashews
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. Combine dates, cashews, peanut butter and water in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
2. Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper to form into one even rectangle shape using the sides of your hands (or a knife) to make the edges straight.
3. Slice into 12 even squares. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature

Granola Larabar

Serves: 8 squares

Ingredients

• 1 cup homemade cooked granola
• ½ cup Medjool dates, pitted
• 1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. Combine granola, dates and water in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
2. Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper to form into one even rectangle shape using the sides of your hands (or a knife) to make the edges straight.
3. Slice into 8 even squares. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature.

Notes

* Sub coconut oil for the butter in the granola to make this recipe dairy free

Peanut Butter Larabar

Serves: 8 squares

Ingredients

• 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
• ½ cup peanut butter

Instructions

1. Combine dates and peanut butter in a food processor and puree until mixture starts to stick together. Add a little more water if necessary to help mixture come together.
2. Pick up date mixture and using your hands work to squeeze it together into one big clump. Mash it down on a cutting board or sheet of wax paper to form into one even rectangle shape using the sides of your hands (or a knife) to make the edges straight.
3. Slice into 8 even squares. For best results store in the fridge, although bars can be kept at room temperature